Proposals/Obsolete Proposals/Campaign Staging

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The following is an attempt to outline the campaign progression we envision, including proposed but not implemented items. It will list broad benchmarks in the campaign's timeline and the relationship between the game's content (weapons, aircraft, aliens, UFOs) and its storyline (major story events). Because the player controls his own research and events in the game are not always entirely predictable, this page is meant only as a rough guide to help us balance research and disassembly times, equipment costs, the timing of new UFO and alien appearances, etc.

The outline below attempts to organize the campaign in three basic stages. First, the player begins to learn about what the aliens are. Second, the player discovers XVI and races to stop its spread. Third, the aliens recognize their XVI efforts are being thwarted and open up a more destructive phase of the battle.

Timing is based on standard difficulty, with alien interest increasing 1 every 22 hours. Alien interest begins the game at 20. Average UFOs shows the total during the stage, a monthly rate, and an average "per cycle" rate, which is based on an 8-day cycle defined in the code. Note that in each cycle the actual number of UFOs can fluctuate quite a bit.

2012-10-29 -- UFO frequency was reduced in master, but the Average UFO values below have not been updated to reflect this. --H-hour 21:46, 29 October 2012 (SAST)

Beginning

Timing: First month. (20-49 Alien Interest)

Research Hours: 7200 hours (10 scientists)

Average UFOs: 7-8 (7-8 per month) (1.75-2 per cycle)

Plot/Storyline: This period gives new players a slow introduction to the game. Background text available.

Alien Threat:

  • Scout, Fighter
  • Alien Squad Size: 3-4 Tamans, Bloodspiders
  • Plasma Pistol, Kerrblade

Phalanx Aircraft:

  • Dropship: Firebird
  • Interceptor: Stiletto
  • Equipment: Polymer Armour, Raven ECM, Sparrowhawk AA Missiles, TR20 Rocket Pod, Shiva Rotary Cannon, Fuel Pod

Phalanx Equipment:

  • Close: Riot Shotgun, Flamer
  • Assault: Assault Rifle, Machine Gun
  • Sniper: Sniper Rifle
  • Explosives: Grenade Launcher, Rocket Launcher
  • Armour: Combat Armour

Expected Research:

  • Alien Origins, Continuous Wave Lasers

Early Game

Timing: 5 months. (50-199 Alien Interest)

Research Hours:

Average UFOs: 40-70 (8-14 per month) (2-3 per cycle)

Plot/Storyline: Begin learning about aliens and UFOs. Phalanx size begins to grow (bases, scientists). Alien threat slowly increases.

Alien Threat:

  • Scout, Fighter, Harvester
  • Alien Squad Size: 4-8 Tamans, Bloodspiders, Shevaar, Armoured Tamans, Hovernet
  • Plasma Pistol, Kerrblade, Plasma Grenade, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Blaster

Phalanx Aircraft:

  • Dropship: Firebird
  • Interceptor: Stiletto, Saracen
  • Equipment: Polymer Armour, Raven ECM, Sparrowhawk AA Missiles, TR20 Rocket Pod, Shiva Rotary Cannon, Fuel Pod

Phalanx Equipment:

  • Close: Riot Shotgun, Flamer, Plasma Blaster
  • Assault: Assault Rifle, Machine Gun, Plasma Rifle, Laser Rifle
  • Sniper: Sniper Rifle, Bolter
  • Explosives: Grenade Launcher (w/ Plasma), Rocket Launcher
  • Armour: Combat Armour, Nanocomposite Armour (late stage)

Expected Research:

  • Soldiers: Plasma Pistol/Rifle/Blaster, Alien Armour, Lasers, Bolter
  • Aircraft: Aerial Laser Cannon, Particle Beam, Alien Plating, Alien Propulsion
  • UFO discovery: UFO Theory, Alien Materials, Antimatter
  • Alien discovery: Live Alien -> Universal Serum, Alien Strategy

Mid Game

Timing: 4 months. (200-309 Alien Interest)

Average UFOs: 60-76 (15-19 per month) (3-4.25 per cycle)

Plot/Storyline: Advanced research starts to yield advanced aircraft. XVI is discovered after humans attack Phalanx (or after XVI infections spreads) and plot begins to revolve around this. Aliens focus on spreading XVI. Player focuses on preventing it from spreading.

Alien Threat:

  • Alien Bases
  • Scout, Fighter, Harvester, Supply, Corrupter
  • Alien Squad Size: 4-12 Tamans, Combat Bloodspiders, Shevaar, Armoured Tamans, Combat Hovernet, Breeder
  • Plasma Blade, Plasma Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Needler, Heavy Needler

Phalanx Aircraft:

  • Dropship: Firebird, Herakles, Hyperion
  • Interceptor: Stiletto, Saracen, Dragon, Starchaser
  • Equipment: Alien Aircraft Plating, Alien EW Suite, Hybrid/Antimatter Missiles, Particle Beam Weapon

Phalanx Equipment:

  • Close: Flamer, Plasma Blaster, Plasma Blade
  • Assault: Assault Rifle (w/ new ammo), Needler, Heavy Needler
  • Sniper: Sniper Rifle (w/ new ammo), Coilgun, Bolter (w/ AM ammo)
  • Explosives: Grenade Launcher (w/ Plasma), Rocket Launcher (w/ Hybrid Rocket)
  • Armour: Nanocomposite Armour

Expected Research:

  • Soldiers: Needler, Coilgun, Plasma Blade, Encased Plasma Rounds, Hybrid Rocket, AM ammo
  • Aircraft: Dropships/Interceptors, Alien Launcher (w/ AM and Hybrid Rockets)
  • XVI plot: Enemy on Earth, XVI Census

Late Game

Timing: 3 months. (310-399 Alien Interest)

Average UFOs: 57-66 (19-22 per month) (4.25-5.5 per cycle)

Plot/Storyline: Aliens shift to a more aggressive and combative strategy. Alien UFOs become more frequent. Player must scramble to confront new threats and begin to find a way to defeat the aliens, not just hold them off. Player begins to wield psionics. Stage climaxes with shooting down of Carrier.

Alien Threat:

  • Alien Bases
  • Fighter, Supply, Gunboat, Bomber, (Ripper), (Battleship)
  • Alien Squad Size: 6-18 Shevaar, Armoured Tamans, Combat Bloodspiders, Ortnoks, Combat Hovernet, Breeder, Armoured Ortnoks, Alien Tank
  • Plasma Blade, Needler, Particle Pistol/Rifle/Cannon,

Phalanx Aircraft:

  • Dropship: Firebird, Herakles, Hyperion, Raptor
  • Interceptor: Stiletto, Saracen, Dragon, Starchaser, Stingray
  • Equipment: Alien Aircraft Plating, Alien EW Suite, Hybrid/Antimatter Missiles

Phalanx Equipment:

  • Close: Flamer, Plasma Blaster, Plasma Blade, Particle Pistol
  • Assault: Needler, Plasma Rifle, Particle Rifle, Particle Cannon
  • Sniper: Bolter (w/ antimatter ammo), Coilgun
  • Explosives: Grenade Launcher (w/ Plasma), Rocket Launcher (w/ new ammo)
  • Armour: Power Armour, Flying Armour

Expected Research:

  • Soldiers: Particle Pistol/Rifle/Cannon
  • Aircraft: Raptor, Stingray, Polymer Armour
  • Shooting down Carrier: Orbital UFO Activity

Finale

Final battlescape missions are the only plans that exist for this stage.

  • Carrier UFO
  • Taman Homeworld
  • Alien Mothership

Timeline Graphic

An overview of the proposed timeline. Proposed outline that is still being discussed/implemented.

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